It's all left to me But there again I wouldn't trust anyone else

My friends normally ask me to fix up their holiday, but if someone books a holiday on their own then I have to go and check the details

We only do DIY nowadays so the research is mainly into the private apartments we are choosing and 10 to 1 there is always some element of my criteria missing in each of the accommodations. Sooo it's still down to check and double checking through all the private owners sites.

Then once I've booked I worry incase I picked the wrong one

I'm pretty much the same as Fiona, I do all the research and book flights etc. then shortly before the trip my husband reads the travel books (if he is going with me, as he really hates to travel) and then plans the holiday. He doesn't like long haul unless it's in business class as he hates being in a confined space, so we don't get to go on many trips together apart from a last minute one to somewhere not too far away in winter. Which again I book.
My next trip is to New York on my own and I will spend weeks and months reading books, trip reports and looking at New York sites for info. the research is a major part of my holiday

I used to be that sad that I used to take brochures to bed with me

Well funny you shoudl say that Kath but I've done just that myself! When my hubby was on nightsift one night I went upstairs for an early night with my brochures and notepad. Suddenly it was 11.30pm and I wondered why I was tired the next morning!!

My hubbie always says he becomes a holiday widow around the same time every year as it takes me weeks to decide where to go and to be honest i do very little else but research the holiday, but he cant really complain he has enjoyed every one of them so is quite happy to leave it to me. It doesnt get much better after we have booked though as it is left up to me to organise i then begin to fret, hoping i have made the right choice! If i did mess up they would certainy know where 2 point the finger!!! Your definatly not on your own with the brochures in bed i have woke in the early hours many nights surrounded by brochures, mostly covered in black print from where they have stuck to me when i have dropped off.

I usually sort out the holiday stuff when it is our family holiday..but when we go Scuba diving with "Frog Squad", it is Andrea that sorts it all out and I just give her a cheque for me, Rob and Gav. So much easier!!!

I do all the research in our house. Generally I ask everyone where they would like to go and get really practical suggestions from the kids like China and Tokyo!! Hubby's contribution is generally to guess at what it will cost (£2000 for AI summer 2008- Ha Ha, which world he lives in I don't know )

Couldn't guess how long I spend, but thank heavens for broadband. Did attempt to pick a travel agent's brains this year but almost walked out when I ended up telling her more than she could tell me- do they not read sites like this

It's always a bit of an anti climax when it's booked- what do I do now? Well it does usually involve watching out for new reviews and hoping that I've made the right choice and I have to admit to feeling responsible when D day arrives. The success or not of those two weeks falls firmly on my shoulders!!

Pam

From all the replies received to this topic, it appears that the females take control over holiday booking/research related matters.

Add to that the fact that the packing and shopping also belongs to the female territory, it appears that the only duty for us males is paying for it all.

Looking forward to some more input here - perhaps there must be a male person among the thousands of HT'ers that - like me - does all the researching?

Mark

Hubbie does most of the research in this house. Our kids are 3 and 6 so we've been doing Eurocamp or equivalent for most of the last few years. We pick up the early booking brochure when we arrive on holiday and we sit with it, our Lonely Planet France book and a bottle of wine planning the following year's holiday.

Hi Mark

Yes, I too am one of the few poor men who get the job of research planning and booking.

My better half makes suggestions, about where and when, and I do all the leg-work. The least she can do in return is the packing!!

We did Budapest in April. Side for 2 weeks end of July - Turkey is nearly always our main Summer break. Also booked for Santorini - 1st week in October.

Already preparing for next year. Bitez, Turkey in Summer, and probably Venice in April. Have already picked out a shortlist of hotels, and am now looking for flights on an almost daily basis. Unfortunatley, not many flights out yet, and those that are, are a little on the pricey side at the moment.

A bloke's work is never done!

yes mark like you i do it all THAT INCLUDES the packing [or we woul;d need an A340 to ourselves]

half the fun of a holiday is doin the research before hand. collecting brochures and online checking. choosing what country and researching it and the hotels on holiday truths etc. i would not book a holiday without doing the research. go on chat and the advice from the other people is in valuable. the tips and hints are so helpful.

hope I'm not off topic, but when planning a Diy holiday what do you book first the flight or hotel? I'm a bit confused- What if I book the flight first and then I find out the hotel hasn't any vacancies or vice versa, I book the hotel and then the flight is full for the date I require. Eventhough I'd try and book both on the same day, this could still be a problem. What's the best way to go about it? Any advice welcome. Thanks

It is kind of off topic, so it might be best if you asked the question HERE as it will probably get a quicker reply.

I can split and then move your post over there if you wish with a link remaining here.

Mark

thanks Mark,
I've just posted using your link.
Cheers

I do all the research and the booking. Last year I booked our first DIY and got such a buzz when it all went as smooth as clockwork. Have done the same again for this year.

Happy Hols

Yes Mark, I love researching holidays. I used to get all the brochures and spend ages looking at them but now I spend hours on line finding the best bargains and researching all about the places we're going, especially since joining HT. Like a lot of others who have replied to this thread I spend ages on this site and visit it everyday.
We are Seniors and not very adventurous as we go to about 4 or 5 places and keep returning, rather than going further afield. This year I have started doing DIY and been well pleased with the results. We have already been three times this year to Palma Nova, Nerja and the Costa Brava and have booked for Cala Bona in October. I'm now looking at flights for Benidorm in January.
Even when I've got everything booked I keep going back to see if it is still a bargain!!
Sue

I found it so much easier to research a holiday online. Looking at the glossy brochures I think all of them look brill but you get a better feel of the place when checking reviews on hotels/resorts on here.

We are going abroad for the first time this year and I used the net to check sites, prices and hotel reviews before I finalised the details.

I'm looking for 2008 already, other half thinks its sad because we haven't gone on this one yet but I really enjoy reading others posts on places, it gives you a much better feel of a place than the glossy pictures in the brochure or the travel agent chit chat.

The only problem with researching online is the vast amount of choice; do I choose the self catering apartment with sea view in Gran Canaria, the half board family resort with 5 pools in Costa Brava or the all inclusive hotel with water slides in Crete?

aaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggghhhhhhhhhhh

i also do all the researching & booking,i don't think hubby knows,where he's going till we board the plane i ask his opinion & he says "why ask,youl'l only do,what you want to do anyway"
i drive him mad,booking ages in advance.we go to turkey in sept & i have las vegas booked for next feb & kenya booked,for oct 08.if i could book,any further ahead,i would do
i run a pub & we live upstairs,so it's quite resrictive,so this is where i escape to.it keeps me sane!!!!!!!!!
tracy

I do all the research on destinations and accommodations. But I make sure he sits with me when I finally make a booking if it's on-line.

Although he does have strong views on two things, there are certain countrys he won't consider whereas I would give anywhere a try & he is also fussy about rooms :hmmm. Apart from that I have a free hand.

He once said "I don't know why you go to all that trouble, basically all you are choosing is a room, a pool and a selection of restaurants for a fortnight?"
He also believes brochures to be full of lies and 15 year old photos, so won't look at them.

Doe